Cecily McGee, Mullumbimby
It’s very misleading for the Byron Shire Echo to repeatedly give Ben Franklin free media coverage, as in the article about the Mullumbimby Drill Hall on 24 February 2021. There were fourteen people in the Drill Hall photo. Only Liz Chance, Artistic Director and Ben Franklin got a mention: weren’t any of the other twelve people worthy of a name check?
Just so Echo readers know, Ben Franklin is one of 42 members of the NSW Government’s upper house (Legislative Council). He doesn’t particularly represent the local area, but like the other 41 MLCs, his responsibilities cover the whole state of NSW. Ben Franklin lives in the region and chooses to have an office in Ballina – that’s his local credentials.
Our local member is Tamara Smith, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Ballina. Tamara Smith is a member of the NSW Government and could have equally claimed credit for the $146,850 grant from the Stronger Country Communities Fund.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
